It hasn’t been easy being a Lakers fan these past couple of days.
First came the news that Bob “Disney” Iger and Joshua “Privatize The World Cup” Kushner bought out Mark "Ruined the Dodgers For Everyone By Holding Investments in Detention Centers" Walter’s majority shares in the team for nearly $13 billion.
Then came the double whammy of the Buss Family Trust (aka the trust of deceased former owner Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Hatten Buss for his six surviving children) selling, but then actually not selling, their collection of shares.
“As you know, this afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and that my client, Jeanie Buss, is ‘out’ as controlling owner,” wrote attorney Adam Streisand, who represents Jeanie, the team governor of the Lakers.
“This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious ‘information’ to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes,” Streisand continued, referring to the long-time friction between his client and her half-brothers.
The continued infighting between the Buss siblings and the impending sale, which still needs to be approved by the NBA, have left fans reeling with too many emotions to count. There was a time when it felt unthinkable to even consider that the team would leave the hands of the Buss family, but the recent drama has shown that change may come soon, leaving fans to wonder what will happen to their beloved team.